Dallas-headquartered Envy Gaming, one of the world’s largest esports and entertainment organizations, has made a strategic investment in fellow Dallas local Botisimo, a provider of comprehensive tools for streamers, to extend the duo’s longtime relationship.
The move brings two major emerging players in the North Texas esports scene together.
It’s also a fitting partnership considering Botisimo prides itself on having the most powerful x-platform for streamers. Dubbed “the ultimate livestream sidekick,” Botisimo acts as a multi-platform chatbot and livestream marketing and activation tool for gamers to better engage their audiences and monetize their efforts.
As part of the deal, Envy Gaming CEO Adam Rymer will join Botisimo’s board, and Envy will use Botisimo’s technology for its esports players, streamers, and content creators.
“Envy’s investment in Botisimo is an exciting and strategic alignment between two North Texas-based organizations pushing for important advances in entertainment technology,” Rymer said. “As users of Botisimo ourselves, we have greatly benefited from a centralized platform that gives our content team and creators the tools, insights, and data to drive better audience engagement for Envy and for our sponsors.”
We first introduced you to Botisimo last October when the startup raised $700,000 in initial seed funding. That investment was made by Mason Bridge, a Dallas-based operating partner run by experienced entrepreneurs who focus on software-driven businesses.
“Esports organizations are among the early adopters taking notice and transforming into content producers that reach into all forms of entertainment beyond just gaming,” Tim Storer, managing director of Mason Bridge, said. “Botisimo is well positioned as the first livestream marketing tool that serves organized live streaming at scale, and we’re excited to welcome Envy Gaming as a strategic investor and partner.”
At the time, Botisimo aimed to increase its user base and develop new features for its game-changing stream tool suite. Armstrong said it was the first fully supported set of complementary tools for professional esports organizations and stream teams, as well as the first team-based chatbot.
Botisimo is essentially a way to scale your stream. With its arsenal of customizable, cloud-based, cross-platform solutions, the startup enables live streamers to better engage and chat with their audiences.
Botisimo integrates with Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Discord, and Trovo to support everyone from the casual solo gamer to competitive esports streamers. The features—chatbot, livestream marketing, analytics, and audience activation tools—automatically integrate with users’ accounts.
The tech has already been used by notable names like Monstercat, Snoop Dogg, and Dude Perfect.
Now, with Envy Gaming as another investment partner, Botisimo wants to continue pioneering its high-tech footprint in the world of streaming. It’s a potentially massive take—the live streaming industry, popularized by Millennial and Gen Z demographics, is on pace to be valued at some $185 billion by 2027.
“To have such a respected esports organization like Envy Gaming invest in our company only continues to validate Botisimo as a leader in our industry,” Botisimo CEO Oscar Armstrong said in a statement. “Through Envy Gaming’s strategic partnership, we look forward to rolling out new features that will continue to accelerate the growth of the esports and live streaming industry.”
Founded in 2007, Envy Gaming is one of the most valuable, winning esports orgs with a global reach. Its network includes competitive gamers, content creators, and esports teams.
Envy also owns and operates the Dallas Empire team in the Call of Duty League, the Dallas Fuel team in the Overwatch League, and the Team Envy franchise.
Most recently, Envy announced a $40 million Series C funding round led by Gray Television. Its equity stakeholders include recording artist Post Malone, Ken Hersh, and esports industry pioneer Mike Rufail.
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